Lighthouse Landing - Some things just look better in black and white..

Hi Debbie - Thanks for stopping by.   I think the color left me cold because there was too much gray in it.  I was  really bent on trying to get a different perspective of the lighthouse  since so many photos show the same angles over and over again.  Certainly the photo I took of the Lighthouse and the TZ bridge have been done before.  In that case changing the lighting is helpful.  You notice something when you take a lot of photographs - and its that when it comes to landmarks,  everyone and their pet canary tends to take the same photo over and over again.  It's almost like they should save everyone the trouble and mark the spot with a big "X" and say "take photos here!"   However, the amout of gray in that photo may be why it hasn't been taken over and over again.  When you think of the Hudson River and the lighthouse you tend to really think of color.

Hi Richard and Beth - Photoshop has a pretty steep learning curve. User-friendly it is not.  If you want to take the time to learn it, that's great.  But its got so many features that few people use them all. I'm still learning new things all the time with it. 

Hi Kathy, Thanks so much for the mention.  I was surprised to see all the comments today on something I posted about a week ago and couldn't figure out where that came from!

Hi Joanna, It really changes things.  I have sold a few of my photos in art shows.  I have to say that the B&W photos seem to have a broad appeal.  Surprising in a time where we are surrounded by color imaging.  I've learned that when I process photos, I sometimes really need to consider creating a B&W version.  Sometimes the intent is to make the photo B&W and other times I find that even though my initial intention was for color, the B&W version really pops.  Sometimes friends of mine, tell me to try something in B&W.  Very often they have seen something I didn't.

Hi Jon, I actually need to go back to the orignal photo and pull out more of the contrast for the B&W version - which I haven't done in this case.  Since it was done in RAW, I should be able to do a lot more with it than I have. 

Hi Kevin, There is a lot of history behind that Lighthouse Landing.  So maybe that's why the B&W version is so appealing.  I tried the B&W with the pop of red...it didnt' work out as well as I whould have liked.  I think the location of the red trim at the base of the lighthouse was the wrong location for placing color into a B&W photo.  

Hi Jon, 

I have my computer set to match the the printer.  Its not an easy process. But I use a specific printer for all my prints and I need to know when I send them something either for fine art or real estate photogprahy that it will be fairly "true".  When I send Jpgs to agents I pick a point in the "middle" as far as brightness so that the photos aren't blown out at one end or too dark at the other.  We have to realize that people's screens are not all the same.  I like what you did, on this screen it runs a lot darket than what I had.  I did another version with more contrast, its darker than the initial. 

Hi Sharon, It just depends on mood too. 

Hi Jon,

That's true.  I work with Mac and not PC, but I've seen the photos change on PC.  Usually the printing is done off of a Mac format which is why I edit on a Mac to keep everything consistent.

Hi Lottie,  It also depends on what you are doing.  I would never work with MLS photos in B&W or neighborhoo photos for a real esate blog necessarily in B&W.  The doctoring would be at a minimum.  But sometimes even neighborhood shots benefit from being in B&W. 

Hi Helen and Larry, I've noticed that many people are drawn to my B&W. Sometimes they want my vivid color as well.   The stuff in between, not so much. 

Hi Kathy, You still have to work with the B&W version to get the contrast right.  It is a different medium than color. 

Hi Dorie - Glad you liked the different versions.